Nipa Bhatt, the 35-year-old former owner of the Gypsy Curry House, in Minnesota, is one of 10 finalists on the Food Network's search for its next star. The reality show, known as The Next Food Network Star, or NFNS, is now in its 4th season. One of the judges is celebrity chef Bobby Flay.
On her bio page, which you can see here (and also watch some videos of her), Nipa says she's a marketing manager who loves reading and watching Hindi movies, as well as playing with her 2 kids. Her favorite food is the lowly fried rice, and the one item she won't touch is barbecue sauce.
Apparently the Food Network is really lacking in the Indian culinary department, so Nipa's using that as her selling point: She wants to demystify Indian food. Here's how she answers the question, "Why you should be The Next Food Network Star":
"I am a marketable person for Food Network because of my versatile background and the result of it. I have been brought up in two vastly different countries and have been able to soak up the best of both worlds. Indian-style food is such a popular type of cuisine now but it’s also the most mysterious. I can teach the nation that ethnic food is approachable and you can cook it nonchalantly."
In one of the videos, Nipa says she mostly cooks Gujarati food but also some North Indian food. Although the show hasn't aired yet, here's what one of the judges, Susie Fogelson said about Nipa:
"She lacks a little polish. She sort of said things that I'm not sure I would say. But... she's spirited. I think she's interesting. And I love her culinary point of view: making ethnic food accessible. That's great."
